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EVALUATING THE IN-VIVO EFFECTS OF METHANOLIC EXTRACT OF A. BOONEI ON LIVER ENZYME FUNCTION IN ALLOXAN INDUCED DIABETES MELLITUS

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1   Background of Study

The present decade has witnessed a great and intense resurgence in the interest and use of the plant (Briskin., 2000). The healing power of herbs identified and botanical medicine has been one of the oldest practiced professions by humanity (Oduolaet al ., 2007). In fact, the use of synthetic pharmaceutical products and hepatotoxic agent reported not only to connect or some serious adverse effects but these drugs are costly and not within the reach of all. However, traditional use of herbs to promote healing is not an alien in any continent. Diabetes mellitus represents a group of metabolic disorders in which there is an impaired glucose utilization hyperglycaemia which is an increase in the blood glucose level beyond normal values (Hazuda, 1991; Adonu et al., 2013). Diabetes is a chronic disease characterized by elevated blood glucose level and disturbances in carbohydrate, fat and protein metabolism (Sky, 2000; Rother, 2007).

A. boonei De Wild belongs to the family Apocynaceae. It is a large evergreen tree and is one of the most widely used medicinal plants in Africa and beyond. It is distributed throughout the tropics and the rain forest of west and Central Africa (Oliver-Bever, 1986; Olajide, et al., 2000). It is known by different names in different cultures and tribal settings. The plant parts are claimed to have medicinal properties in some cultures and climes. In the local markets in West and Central Africa, Alstoniaboonei is often among the most common sold plant as crude drugs. Parts of the plant are employed for the treatment of a variety of ailments in Africa and the stem bark has been listed in the Africa Pharmacopoeia as an antimalarial drug (Bello et al ., 2009). Various pharmacological studies have been carried out on this plant products which showed that the extracts possess anti-malaria, antipyretic, analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties (Ojewole, 1984; Olajideet al., 2000), anthelmintic (Wright et al, 1993), diuretic, spasmolytic and hypotensive properties (Iwu, 1993), antifebrile, astringent, (Iwu and Klayman, 1993), Immuno-stimulant property (Taiwo et al, 1998), antipsychotic and anxiolytic effect (Elisabetsky and Costa-campos, 2006), reversible antifertility effect, (Raji et al, 2005), among others..

1.2   JUSTIFICATION OF STUDY

Alstoniaboonei, a large evergreen tree belonging to the family Apocynaceae is one of the widely used medicinal plants in Africa and beyond. It is distributed throughout the tropics and the rain forest of west and Central Africa (Oliver-Bever, 1986; Olajide 2000). It is known by different names in different cultures and tribal settings. It is not edible as food but possesses roots, stem barks, leaves, fruits, seeds, flowers, and latex which are claimed to have medicinal properties in some cultures and climes.

Various documented and undocumented claims have it that alcoholic or aqueous preparations from some parts of the plant especially the stem bark have medicinal uses for treating febrile illness, jaundice, painful micturition, rheumatic conditions (Ojewole, 1984; Asuzu and Onaga, 1991), as an antivenom against snake bite, as antidote against arrow poisoning etc. The extract of the stem bark is commonly used as a febrifuge in treating malaria and is listed in the African pharmacopoeia as an anti-malarial drug (Olajide et al, 2000).

Currently, there is paucity of information on the hepatic effects of A. boonei on those that it as antidiabetic drug. This study therefore aims at accessing Aspartate aminotransferase (ASP), Alkaline phosphatase (ALP), Alanine aminotransferase (ALT), on alloxan induced diabetic rabbits.

1.3  AIM AND OBJECTIVES
This study is aimed at evaluating the in-vivo effects of methanolic extract of A. boonei on liver enzyme function in Alloxan induced diabetes mellitus. Specific objectives include;

i.  Determining of aspartate aminotransferease, alkaline phosphatase, alanine aminotransferase on Alloxan induced male diabetic rabbits. 

ii.  Determining of aspartate aminotransferease, alkaline phosphatasea, alanine aminotransferase on Control.

iii.  Correlate the results generated from the study of the two groups.

1.4   HYPOTHESIS
Ho: Methanolic extract of Alstoniaboonei stem bark, leaves and root does not have effect on the liver function in alloxan induced diabetic rabbits.
Hi:   Methanolic extract of Alstoniabooneileaves, root and stem bark have effect on the liver function of alloxan induced diabetic rabbits.

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